Incubating method.



PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

H. W. AXFORD. v INOUBATING METHOD.

APPLIOATIUN FILED NOV. 4, 1903.

Patented April 4, 1905.

HARRIS W. AXFORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INCUBATING METHOD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,256, dated April 4, 1905.

Application filed November 4, 1903. Serial No. 179.772. i I

and useful Improvements in Incubating.

Methods, of whichfthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in incubating methods. The aim of my invention is to provide a method by which a larger number of eggs can be hatched in an incubator of a given' size and by which much more perfect incubation and nourishment can be obtained than is ossible by the methods heretofore in use.

0 this end my invention consists in certain novel features of procedure, which are fully set forth herein and illustrated as far as may be in the accompanying drawings.

In the aforesaid drawings, Figure '1 is a transverse section through a form of incubator which I use in practicing my method, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a suitable oven provided with inlet and exhaustflues a a, respectively. A chamber a is provided below the inlet-flue a, and in this chamber a suitable heating apparatus may be placed. Within the'oven is journaled a rotatable drum B, constructed in any desired way, and this drum bears a lurality of removable eggtrays B. Each of these eggtrays is cut up into longitudinally-extending portions, each of which is of such size as to receive a number of eggs laid end to end, as shown in Fi 2, but which fits the egg comparatively c osely in other direction, as indij cated in Fig. 1. Each of these trays is .provided with a suitable cover, which holds the e gs firmly in place, so that when the tray is led and its cover placed in position it may be inverted without the eggs piling up or being broken. The drum B is mounted upon a shaft 0, which is driven by a motor of any desired sort, the motor being diagrammaticall shown at D.

n practicing my improved method of in- I cubation the egg-trays of my incubator are filled with eggs, as shown in the drawings, and the motor is started, so that the drum 1s rotated continuously about its axis. Each egg therefore passes-in each rotation of the drum com letely about a circle and is therefore comp etelv inverted. As the incubation proceeds the drum is kept in practically continuous motion, so that throughout the entire hatching period the eggs are turned over with great frequency and also move through practically the entire vertical height of the oven.

The advantages of this method will be very evident when it is remembered that the germ of the egg floats at the top inside the shell and sends its blood-vessels downward into the egg to obtain nourishment. With the ordinary incubators it is necessary to turn the eggs over at least once in twelve hours to cause them to hatch properly, and this is ordinarily done by hand. With my improved method this very onerous task is entirely dispensed with. Furthermore, much better nourishment is rovided, for the reason that the erm not on y works from one side of the shelI for one period and from the opposite side for the next, but is continuously moved inside the shell and is therefore continuously brought in contact with new nourishing matter. A further advantage of this method consists in the fact that the egg being in continuous movement is warmed equally upon all sides, and consequently can be hatched with a lower degree of heat than is necessary in other incubators. In other words, there is no cold side to the egg. A still further advantage consists in the fact that with this method a much larger number of eggs can be hatched in an incubator of the same size than can be hatched by any incubator where the eggs remain stationary. This arises from the fact that the eggs are moved with great frequency up and down the incubator, and

consequently are all at substantially the same temperature, the motion of each egg from the top to the bottom of its movement being accomplished quicklyenough for the heat inertia, if such a term be proper, of

ture of the oven.

. hatched, and consequently no incubator but a single-layer incubator can be successful unless the eggs are in continuous motion. With my improved method a quantity of eggs suflicient to form several layers can be hatched in the same oven, each egg being moved up and down through the oven with sufficient rapidity to keep it at a constant temperature.

I am aware that heretofore it has been proposed to make incubators having a drum which could be turned by hand for the purpose of inverting the eggs from time to time, and I do not claim as my invention this method of procedure. The advantages, however, of continuously moving the eggs are meme very obvious in' view of the eboye description of my invention.

I realize that my procedure can be varied to a considerable extent and that apparatus for carrying the method into efiect is by no means l mited to that herein shown and de scribed.

I claim as new'and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The herein-described improvement in the art of incubation which consists in warming 3 5 the eggs for the required time and keeping them in practically continuous rotation during the eriod of incubation, whereby each germ is rought successively. in contact with all arts of the nourishing'materiel of the egg. 40 n witness whereof I have signed the above a plicetionfor Letters Patent, at Ohieagqin t e county of Cook and State of'ois, this 21st day of October, A. D. 1903.

R18 W. AXFURD. Witnesses:

Grants. 0. SHERVEY, RUssELL Nuns. 

